Joy Inexpressible

What is Joy?

Why should we have Joy?

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Psalm 33:1 NASB95

1 Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.

Proverbs 17:22 NASB95

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 15:15 NASB95

15 All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Joy is an attitude that you choose

James 1:2 NASB95

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

Psalm 47:1 NASB95

1 O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.

Psalm 100:2 NASB95

2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.

Joy is perfected through sorrow and pain

Acts 16:22–24 NASB95

22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Joy is fruit from a true Christian

Acts 16:25–26 NASB95

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.

What is our future?

Psalm 126:5–6 NASB95

5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. 6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Malachi 4:1–3 NASB95

1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” 2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. 3 “You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord of hosts.

To Sum Up

True Joy is found in Christ alone

1 Peter 1:6–9 NASB95

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.